Halloween is finally upon us and 2026 has had no shortage of weird and unsettling games to indulge in for the scariest time of year. While we’ve had the pleasure of covering many such games here at Gamer Social Club, this time of year also coincides with the influx of huge AAA releases, meaning that some imaginative indies have gone under the radar.

So if you’re looking for something to play this Halloween and are on a budget, we’ve got just the list for you. Here is Gamer Social Club’s Halloween Playlist for 2026.

Allogloom (PC)

Fans of the point-and-click adventure genre know that the genre has a long history with horror that’s been wonderfully preserved by the indie scene. Allogloom is another excellent example of this. From solo developer Galactic Ghostly, Allogloom is a gorgeous adventure in which a young girl named Nora investigates the mystery surrounding her disappearing neighbor, unearthing some uncomfortable secrets along the way.

Better yet, it’s a relatively brisk tale, making it a perfect Halloween night plan for point-and-click fans. As our reviewer Stephanie “Candyxbomb” Richards describes – “For those who want a neatly packaged, slightly eerie, yet beautiful escape to another world, Allogloom is amazing.”

Crisol: Theater of Idols (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)

Fans of horror giant Blumhouse might not be familiar with the fact that the Obsession and Insidious studio has been quietly releasing an impressive slate of indie games for the past few years including 2024’s Fear the Spotlight and last year’s Sleep Awake. While its efforts seem to be slowing down, it did release Madrid-based Vermila Studios’ action horror game Crisol: Theater of Idols earlier this year.

This Spanish horror game takes inspiration from the likes of BioShock and Resident Evil: Village as players traverse a blood-drenched religious town. As our reviewer Mark “WeAwokenTheHive” Pell puts it – “Don’t be fooled into thinking that launching at $18 USD / £15 Crisol is a poor man’s Resident Evil Village-like. Yes, there’s a little less polish here, but for a breakout title with a fraction of the budget, Vermila have delivered.”

Curse of Resthaven (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)

If your preferred Halloween is spent indulging in a macabre atmosphere rather than outright terror, Curse of Resthaven is just for you. The freshest game on the list (having just released yesterday as of writing), this narrative rogue-like mixes card-based detective gameplay with a time loop structure as players guide newly elected governor Ambrose as he searches for his kidnapped niece across the island of Resthaven.

Given its structure, this one is a bit more of a commitment, with our reviewer Phil “chilphil” Rolle only managing to make it through his first run in time for release. Regardless, it’s an absolute recommendation – “If you love narratives, gothic mysteries, eldritch horror, and the satisfaction of finally cracking a case, Curse of Resthaven is well worth the time.”

Mina the Hollower (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)

Earlier this year marked the long awaited return of Yacht Club Games, whose breakout indie hit Shovel Knight debuted over a decade ago. A love letter to Zelda and Castlevania, Mina the Hollower is a more light-hearted fair for the list for those looking for something a bit more cartoonishly spooky. Don’t be mistaken though, the terror here comes from just how punishing this cutesy world can be. It’s also got some certified Halloween bangers courtesy of fantastic composer Jake Kaufman.

Still currently one of the highest rated games of the year, Mina the Hollower is a perilous journey worth taking. That’s at least according to our reviewer… me. “Mina the Hollower is a joyously ambitious modern take on classic action-adventure games, blending carefully executed mechanics with a world that isn’t afraid to bite back, making for an experience that continuously empowers the player and rewards curiosity at every turn.”

Penguin Colony (PC)

Penguin Colony marks the return of one of the most distinct voices in the indie scene, ORIGAME DIGITAL. Much like its last game, Umurangi Generation, Penguin Colony explores a truly tangible form of horror. Reimagining H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness, players control a group of penguins in the aftermath of an unspeakable evil awakening deep in the Antarctic at the hands of Nazis.

The game is an often intense and somber interrogation of the various structures and manifestations of evil, but truly the less said about it the better. We didn’t get a chance to review this one (although our Community Manager Fraser did check it out at PAX Aus), so let me use this opportunity to give it the recommendation it deserves. It’s the perfect game for those looking to indulge in a truly dark narrative backed by reality, and will only take you just under 3 hours.

Servant of the Lake (PC, iOS, Android)

For over a decade now developer Rusty Lake has been releasing a steady streak of puzzle games, all of which contribute to a wider ongoing universe of storytelling. The latest culmination of that is Servant of the Lake, which sees players taking control of a servant of the Vanderboom estate years before the events of Rusty Lake: Roots. The game retains the series’ distinct eerie art direction and clever approach to storytelling through puzzle design.

Despite arriving for the series’ 10th anniversary, Servant of the Lake makes a great starting point for the Rusty Lake universe. At least that’s according to our reviewer Sean “KingOTheCask” Richards – “If you have played the prior Rusty Lake titles, then Servant of the Lake is another notch to put on your shelf. If you’re new to the genre of point-and-click puzzles, or just the Rusty Lake series in general, I find that it does provide a nice jumping off point. In terms of both gameplay/puzzle difficulty, as well as the overall story of this harrowing lake.”

Silver Pines (PC, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S)

The Metroidvania genre has always maintained a close relationship to horror, placing massive emphasis on claustrophobia and heavy atmosphere. Few games in the genre have as dreary an atmosphere as Silver Pines. Despite taking heavy inspiration from iconic 90s surreal noir shows including Twin Peaks and The X Files, and blending traversal and combat from the Silent Hill series with 2D Metroidvania design, Silver Pines still manages to feel truly unique. It also features gorgeous rotoscoped hand-drawn animation, making for one of the best looking games of the year.

Silver Pines’ length is comparable to a mainline Silent Hill or Resident Evil game at somewhere between 8-14 hours, but it doesn’t waste a second. As Mark puts it, “The town of Silver Pines is a wonderfully sinister place to explore, it’s story deep and intriguing, and presentation a horrific delight. Silver Pines is the best horror game you can play for Halloween 2026.”

The Sinking City 2 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)

While it’s pushing the bracket a bit in terms of price and development scope for this, it wouldn’t be right not to include The Sinking City 2. Independent Ukrainian/Irish developer Frogwares returns to its H.P. Lovecraft inspired world for its first full foray into survival horror. This standalone sequel is fresh for newcomers to jump into, featuring a new protagonist and setting of the Lovecraftian city of Arkham, with a renewed emphasis on combat as players fend off eldritch monsters as protagonist Calvin journeys to save his fiancée from an endless slumber.

According to our reviewer Andrew “Coopy” Cooper, The Sinking City 2 represents a huge step up from its predecessor and for developer Frogwares. “The Sinking City 2 presents itself as Frogwares’ defining moment, and it should ultimately be remembered as their greatest accomplishment yet. So do yourself a favor, survival horror fans —book the trip to Arkham. The water’s freezing, the locals bite, and I can’t recommend it enough.”

Tenebris Somnia (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X/S)

From its initial announcement all the way through to release, Tenebris Somnia has been one of the most aesthetically ambitious horror games to release in years. Blending simplistic but excellently animated 16-bit graphics with fully practical live-action sequences, Andrés Borghi and Saibot Studios’ game is one of the most distinct titles of the year. Thankfully, Tenebris Somnia also weaves a gripping story about fiction influencing reality befitting its own artistic fusion.

At only 8 hours, this is a brisk horror worth enduring just for the impressive technicality of it all, alongside the cleverly designed throwback survival horror gameplay. Mark once again reviewed this one, stating “With scarce resources, environmental storytelling and progress gating puzzles, Tenebris Somnia is a love letter to classic survival horror. The live-action sequences aren’t just great original horror scenes; they’re integral and integrated into the full experience in a way that exceeded my expectations.”

Well Dweller (PC, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S)

Capping off the list is another Metroidvania. Well Dweller is the latest from Islets and Crypt Custodian developer Kyle Thompson, and takes the form of a dark fairy tale as players help Glimmer, a small black bird, navigate the depths of a perilous well on his journey to kill its queen and save his family. Featuring beautiful hand-drawn 2D animation, this is another atmospherically rich Metroidvania for those looking to submerge themselves in a sense of dread without plunging too deeply into horror territory.

With exceptional design and art direction, Well Dweller is one of the standout Metroidvania releases of the year. As our reviewer Adam “Addy” Stewart put it – “Well Dweller is a joy to play from start to finish. From its beautiful and varied landscapes, sinister bosses, ambient music, to its excellent gameplay mechanics and character designs, you’ll have a hard time putting it down. A Metroidvania that could, and should, be held up as an example of what games from the genre should be.”

Conclusion

That’s it for our Halloween Playlist recommendations for 2026. Hopefully we helped you find something to play this spooky season. If you liked anything here, be sure to check out the accompanying review and wishlist them if they catch their interest, and stay tuned to Gamer Social Club for more of our ongoing coverage for new releases, big and small.